Blemishes, dark circles, uneven skin tone and scars. We all have
them. Even models and movie stars have them. They are either airbrushed
out or camouflaged by the skillful use of cosmetic concealers. This last solution is available to all of us and, with a little practice, can give amazingly successful results.

A concealer is used to cover up blemishes and produce an even skin tone.
Losing the dark circles under your eyes can make a dramatic, instantly
youthful difference to your appearance. Dark patches around the nose
and chin can disappear completely so it is well worth taking the trouble
to perfect your concealer technique.

Concealersare
meant to conceal and blend in completely with your natural skin tone
and foundation. The best way to ensure that they do just that is to
choose a colour that’s a half-shade lighter than your skin’s natural
tone.

Chose the shade of your concealer carefully: For pale skin, use a
light beige with yellow undertones. For olive skin, use a medium beige
with pink undertones. And for darker skin, use a medium to medium-dark
shade with peach undertones. Multi-tone concealerscan give exceptional results but do practice before going out as they can be tricky to get right.

Apply concealer first, before foundation, and give it a few minutes
to set before applying your foundation. Apply a very light, non greasy,
moisturising eye cream to about one inch below the eye. Then lightly
place a small bit of concealer directly over the area. You can use a
small, square, flat concealer brush or you can dot it on with your
finger. Gently pat the concealer onto your skin rather than rubbing it
in.

Blend in thoroughly but with as soft a touch as possible.

Always start with less than you think you need. You can add more if
needed, but the idea is to use as little as possible. Don’t be tempted
to apply a layer so thickly that it becomes noticeable, This will only
draw attention to the problem area. Less is definitely more in this
instance.

Using the correct shade for you skin will allow you to get better
results with less product. When you are using a concealer tester always
try it out on your face. The skin tone of your hand is completely
different from that of your face.

Concealer can even help cover up acne. Use a medicated concealer, one with Tea tree Oilis
ideal, and it will even help heal the spot while it conceals it! A
yellow or green shade can help to counter the redness of acne.

Be very careful when using concealer on an area that will be covered
by eyeshadow, blusher or lipstick as the colours can be altered by
concealer, test this out on your hand before using a new product.

Concealers are available in stick form, like a lipstick. These are
easy to apply, give a good cover and are convenient to carry about. Make
sure they are very soft and avoid dragging the delicate skin around the
eyes as you apply and blend.

Also available are liquid concealers, often with an applicator wand
in the lid, or in a small tube. These are very easy to apply and blend.
You can dab it on without dragging.

Compact concealers are usually applied with the finger tip. These
also give a good coverage but make sure your hands are scrupulously
clean, especially if you suffer from spots.

After applying concealer apply foundation and powder as usual. You
can touch up your concealer over your foundation if necessary, but be
very careful to blend it in very carefully and to use the minimum amount
possible.

If you have scarring to your face or body there are special ranges of
concealing make up that are only available on the NHS. If you ask your
GP he can refer you to a specialist who will select suitable products
and give you instructions on how to use them. These products are really
brilliant, the results are incredible and can be life-changing. So if
you think you might benefit please go and speak to your GP.